The True Luna's Kiss

Chapter 18

"Let's go!"

Two words! Her mate had said two words to her. He hadn't touched her, kissed her or tried to claim her. Sirona lowered her head. She knew exactly why. She was broken, and he didn't want a broken Luna.

"Don't say that!" Briar pleaded. "You are not broken!"

Sirona scoffed. "You saw my reflection in the mirror, I'm practically transparant. People must think they are looking at a ghost when they see me. I can't even speak. I don't even know how to speak anymore. How can I help him run a pack? How can I do anything when he won't even touch me? He doesn't want me, Briar. He has made that perfectly clear! So why would I go with him?"

Briar was silent for a moment. Before she responded, in such a quiet voice, sounding so pained that it made Sirona shiver.

"What choice do we have?" Briar whispered. "We can't stay here. They'd put us back in the cell. They would use us again. They'd hurt us again. Going with our mate can't be any worse, can it?"

Sirona considered her wolf's words, trying to slow her heart and stop herself from vomiting. She knew Briar was right. Knew that staying wasn't really an option. And so she found her feet moving, almost on their own. After Alice. After the others. And after her mate.

Outside the pack house, Sirona froze again. Blinking as she adjusted to the new wave of light that had hit her eyes. The smells of the world invaded her senses. The sounds were overwhelming, calling to her all at once. Her heart felt as if it would explode or just stop beating any second. She was outside, where she had longed to be for so many years. Outside in the world. And suddenly, she couldn't do it. Sirona started to turn, to go back inside. She would find her way to her old cell and stop the rising panic. She couldn't do this.

A soft touch on her arm made her pause. Alice was smiling at her softly. She slid her hand down to Sirona's and gripped it lightly.

"One step at a time," Alice said, her voice gentle. "Together."

Sirona swallowed hard, but nodded. She started to turn back and walk towards the three males waiting beside a large car.

Gabriel had nearly ceased to exist when Sirona had turned away to go back. His heart had screamed out. He wanted to run to her, to hold her. To do anything to stop her from leaving. But his feet were moulded into the ground, and he couldn't do anything.

Hopeless, this was all hopeless. What was he even thinking?

"You're thinking about mate, and what she needs!" Shadow said, reassuringly. "Give her time, she will come!"

Gabriel could only pray he was right. And when he saw Sirona give Alice that nod, air flooded his lungs again as if it was the first time her had drawn breath.

It was only when Sirona was safely strapped into the car that Gabriel moved.

"Drive." Shadow had told him. "It will give you something to focus on."

Gabriel had to agree with him, it would help to distract himself right now. So, much to his Beta's surprise, he took the car keys and positioned himself in the drivers seat.

The drive home seemed to take forever to Gabriel. Marco was excited to see Alicia again. It had only been a few days, but it felt like forever. He was practically vibrating with excitement in the passenger seat.

Max was wrapped up in Alice on the back seat. Gabriel glared at his Gamma, who just returned the look with a cheeky smile. The Alpha wished he could have his mate wrapped around him. He glanced at his mate in the rear view mirror. Sirona was just staring out the window, her mouth slightly open, taking in the passing scenery.

The view turned from lush green forest to towns in the blink of an eye. Sirona had never seen anything like it. But it was when she neared the Ebony Glade packlands, her mouth fully dropped open. The path they had taken was winding through the biggest mountains she had ever seen. Snow dusted the top of them, making them seem almost fake in their perfection. The pack lands were sitting in the centre of three huge mountain ranges, making it completely protected on 3 sides. The perfect place for a pack to thrive.

Sirona didn't want to blink, for fear she would miss a single detail.

Gabriel had to remind himself to keep his eyes on the road. His mate's reaction was everything right now. He had been worried she would hate it, the mountains could be claustrophobic - especially on a cloudy day. But Sirona didn't seem to mind. In fact she seemed thrilled by them. It warmed his heart. He loved his home, took a great deal of pride in his pack. And knowing someone who was so important to him, appreciated it too. It gave him a warm feeling he hadn't had in such a long time.

"You might want to make Sirona feel important to you." Shadow warned him. "Because right now, I'll bet she's feeling somewhat insignificant."

It was a warning Gabriel did not need. He already knew how much he had f****d up already. He just didn't know what to do about it.

The car pulled up outside the main house of the pack and Sirona didn't think her jaw could drop any lower. But the house was magnificent. In fact, calling it a house was an understatement. It was a castle. An actual castle, with turrets and towers. Built in a beautiful grey stone, with a towering blue shale roof that seemed to blend in with the sky itself. Huge bay windows peaked out across the front, and a arched dark wooden door at the front. It was straight out of a fairy tale. Well the one's Sirona could vaguely remember anyway. She stole a glance at Gabriel, who was exiting the car. If only finding her mate had been a fairytale experience as well.

In the blink of an eye, Gabriel was opening her car door. She slid out of her seat and stood, wobbling slightly, peering up at the building in front of her.

Gabriel gave her an uncertain smile and spoke two words which gave her chills.

"Welcome home."